All posts by BenIndy

Air Quality, Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program (BCAMP)

Register Today: “Air Toxics and Your Health” at Benicia Library on Thurs., Feb. 27
Click the image or the link that follows to register on the Zoom Registration Page. 
BCAMP  would like to invite you to a Forum on Air Toxics and Your Health on Feb. 27th from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Benicia Public Library, 150 East L Street, or on Zoom.

People are concerned about breathing wildfire smoke, refinery emissions, vehicle tailpipe exhaust, and other health-harming toxics.  You will hear from technical experts and community leaders at this forum about the health impacts and how we can find out what we breathe. Sponsored by Benicia Community Air Monitoring Program (BCAMP).

BCAMP is a nonprofit with a triple mission:  to run an independently controlled air monitoring station, educate the public about air pollution and air monitoring, and advocate for strong air monitoring regulations.  Check out our website for the latest air monitoring information in Benicia.  The flyer with more information and a document with our speakers is above.

Please invite anyone who is concerned about their health and the air they breathe.

Please register in advance if you plan to attend by Zoom.

Kathy Kerridge, BCAMP Board Member

Read more! As Air Quality is so essential to our health, you might want to check out these resources:
50501 Movement, Choose Democracy, Donald Trump, Resist!

Benicia, Vallejo, Fairfield – all to Protest on Presidents Day!

BENINDY: We will continue to live in hope and in righteous anger, with courage, with long-and short-range planning and with a persistence faithful to the constitution, to those we love and to our moral convictions…

  • The BENICIA Independent calls on everyone to PROTEST in Benicia today, Monday 2/17 at noon, City Park Gazebo.
  • FAIRFIELD protest is today, Monday 2/17 at 12:30pm, at the County Building, 675 Texas St.
  • VALLEJO protest is today, Monday 2/17 at 5:30pm, at City Hall, 555 Santa Clara St.

PREVIOUS POSTING FOR BENICIA…

This upcoming Presidents Day, it’s important to show the US, the government, Benicia and the world, that Trump is NOT the people’s president.

Meet at THE GAZEBO in Benicia City Park on Monday from Noon to 1pm, to peacefully protest in support of the nationwide event. (Map)

Bring your own sign, noisemakers, bullhorns and a great attitude. Please help everyone follow the rules, keep it peaceful and do not block the sidewalk to other pedestrians. Do NOT go into the street.

Donald Trump is a threat not only to the US but to democracy, peace and lives. His unpopular, harmful and dangerous policies and presidential orders have already sent shockwaves through the United States and the world. His actions have real consequences and is coming at the cost of the lives and health of trans people, Queer people, women, Black & Brown people, immigrants, poor people, and anyone who’s not considered important to him. If he is allowed to continue this path of destruction unopposed, he can and will end millions of lives. Donald Trump does not care about anyone else but his billionaire friends, and is steamrolling the rights of US citizens DAILY, as well as breaking constitutional rights constantly without much pushback.

Join Us!

[sta_anchor id=”below” /]50501 – 50 protests, 50 states
On Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/50501movement.bsky.social

Live coverage from STRINGER.COM Via Reuters… 

50501 Movement, Choose Democracy, Donald Trump, Resist!

Protest on Presidents Day – Noon on Monday Feb 17

BENINDY: We will continue to live in hope and in righteous anger, with courage, with long-and short-range planning and with a persistence faithful to the constitution, to those we love and to our moral convictions…

The Benicia Independent calls on everyone to PROTEST in Benicia this Monday. (See Benicia details by Susan Street immediately below, and for national coverage, see far below.)

This upcoming Presidents Day, it’s important to show the US, the government, Benicia and the world, that Trump is NOT the people’s president.

Meet at THE GAZEBO in Benicia City Park on Monday from Noon to 1pm, to peacefully protest in support of the nationwide event. (Map)

Bring your own sign, noisemakers, bullhorns and a great attitude. Please help everyone follow the rules, keep it peaceful and do not block the sidewalk to other pedestrians. Do NOT go into the street.

Donald Trump is a threat not only to the US but to democracy, peace and lives. His unpopular, harmful and dangerous policies and presidential orders have already sent shockwaves through the United States and the world. His actions have real consequences and is coming at the cost of the lives and health of trans people, Queer people, women, Black & Brown people, immigrants, poor people, and anyone who’s not considered important to him. If he is allowed to continue this path of destruction unopposed, he can and will end millions of lives. Donald Trump does not care about anyone else but his billionaire friends, and is steamrolling the rights of US citizens DAILY, as well as breaking constitutional rights constantly without much pushback.

Join Us!

[sta_anchor id=”below” /]50501 – 50 protests, 50 states
On Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/50501movement.bsky.social

Live coverage from STRINGER.COM Via Reuters… 

Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), Bay Area Refineries, Benicia CA, Benicia City Council, BISHO, Valero Benicia Refinery

Benicia’s Industrial Safety Ordinance: Multiple protections are necessary, not duplicative

A four-alarm fire broke out at the Port of Benicia Saturday, April 9, 2022. San Francisco Baykeeper, an organization that took legal action against the port and the Valero refinery over Clean Water Act violations and won, was on site, documenting the incident with video captured by drone. | SF Baykeeper.

By Betty Lucas, February 3, 2025

When it’s cold and raining outside, we keep warm and dry in a variety of ways: umbrellas, jackets, mitts and muffs. Multiple layers are not duplicative; they are often necessary. We protect ourselves, our homes and cars through insurance that covers theft, fire, landslides and floods. The same thing goes for protections against things we might not be able to see or feel, like pollution in our air and environment – as well as all too visible threats like potential fires and explosions.

These types of city protections may be codified into something called called an industrial safety ordinances (ISO). Such ordinances protect residents against industries that pollute, such as refineries, cement factories, etc.

No one ever regrets having strong insurance protection when they need it. Ask anyone in LA or Santa Rosa who lost their homes to fires.

All California cities with refineries have protection through ISOs, except Benicia,

On the Tuesday, February 4 City Council meeting, starting at 6 pm, Benicians have a chance to encourage every City Council member to unanimously pass a strong ISO.

LEARN MORE: Benicia looking to adopt Industrial Safety Ordinance

Why would any Council member vote against keeping us safe? Adopting an ISO with a strong oversight commission to monitor the law’s implementation is similar to each of us having strong insurance protections for when we need it.

Valero has opposed such a protective ISO because it knows it could be fined for various ISO violations. It claims that we don’t need an ISO with oversight because it’s duplicating services that already exist. This is not true. There are other agencies concerned with such matters, yet Valero’s history shows that there were not enough current protections in place to keep us safe from its polluting our air and not reporting this for many, many years. An ISO with a seat at the table will keep us informed of risks, hazards, accidents and violations, to provide the protection we need moving forward.

The City’s current Memorandum of Understanding with Valero has proven totally inadequate for protecting us. Having multiple checks and balances are necessary, not duplicative.

Your comments are encouraged. On February 4, please attend the Benicia City Council meeting in person, via Zoom, or email your thoughts to Mayor Steve Young: SYoung@ci.benicia.ca.us. The meeting is at Benicia City Hall, 250 East L Street.

Betty Lucas